OBERLIN, La. (KLFY) — The body of missing Crowley teen, 18-year-old Markell Lazard, was recovered this morning at the Calcasieu River in Oberlin, Allen Parish officials say.

According to Lazard’s family members, Lazard was last seen in Allen Parish on Saturday. The family says Lazard went missing while swimming with his friends at the Calcasieu River in Oberlin.

The United Cajun Navy, The Allen Parish Sheriff’s Office, and agents with Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries searched for nearly 72 hours since Saturday, until they found a body Monday morning, believed to be Lazard’s.

News 10 spoke with Lazard’s mother and father, Tiffany Woodson and Mike Laws, who say they were notified by authorities this morning about Lazard’s body being found. They say they are devastated.

“I have a little peace, but it’s not really happiness,” said Woodson.

Woodson says she and the family were told by the Allen Parish Coroner Lazard’s death was from a suspected drowning.

“Because of the conditions of being in the water for so long, the coroner did say he’s about 99 percent sure that’s my son, so he said it does look like a possible accidental drowning,” said Woodson.

Woodson says Lazard was unaware of how high the water could be.

“My son couldn’t swim and that was a mistake he made just coming here and thinking that the water wasn’t high, I guess he knew nothing of it, just like I wouldn’t have,” said Woodson.

The family says while they have some closure knowing Lazard was found, their emotions are still very fresh. Mike Laws, Lazard’s father, sends his thanks to all organizations who made the search possible.

“So many people were volunteering to come with their boats free of charge, and this is some people from Lake Charles, from Florida, and all over Virginia that came and helped,” said Laws.

Woodson says Lazard and the family just celebrated Good Friday together. They also say Lazard was just released from jail one month ago and was looking to turn his life around.

“Good Friday he came to celebrate and Monday he had an interview at Chili’s,” said Woodson. “He was trying.”

Lazard’s loved ones say they will always remember him as a compassionate human being who brought a smile to everyone he came across.

“He had a good heart to everybody he met, he was respectable to everybody,” said Woodson. “I know his spirit can feel how loved he was, it was so many people he touched.”

If you would like to donate to help the family with funeral expenses, click here.

Detectives with the Allen Parish Sheriff’s Office say foul play is not suspected at this time.

This is a developing story.

Latest news